美国国家公共电台 NPR--Separating climate change and inequality won't work, says Biden's World Bank nominee

Separating climate change and inequality won't work, says Biden's World Bank nominee¹

Transcript²

President Biden's nominee to lead the World Bank says the twin global challenges of climate change and inequality need to be addressed simultaneously³ and cannot be separated.

Ajay Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard, tells Morning Edition's Michel Martin that it will take the combined action of all stakeholders, from countries to the multilateral development banking⁴ system to the private sector⁵ to make a difference, particularly when it comes to climate change.

"We don't have the time to play in silos," he says.

Banga, who is 63, says the World Bank, which oversees⁶ billions of dollars in funding for developing countries, will have to forge new partnerships⁷ to provide the resources necessary to tackle today's challenges.

"The scale of these challenges require trillions, not billions," he says.

The successful Indian-American businessman is the only candidate for the president position at the multilateral institution.

His nomination⁸ will need to be confirmed by the bank's board.

The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

The World Bank and institutions like it are among the few that can tackle long term money, long term thinking aimed at fighting inequality. We're also aimed at fighting the intertwined challenge of climate change. I always thought this, but I never dreamt I would actually get a chance to do this job.

On what he brings to the table

I've shown over the course of my career that I can manage complex global organizations for change, for a new direction, for a new time. The World Bank needs to evolve for that change. And partnerships are a very important part that will be required for the World Bank. Partnerships with MDB's [Multilateral Development Banks], partnerships with government, but most interestingly, partnerships with the private sector. Because the scale of these challenges require trillions, not billions.

On the link between climate change and poverty

I honestly don't think we can unwind the two challenges of development and climate and segregate⁹ them. You know, if you're a farmer in Kenya where they haven't had rains for four years, it very quickly becomes from two crops to one crop in a year. That leads to them then getting rid of their cattle that give them income from milk and dairy, that then leads to them laying off the laborer¹⁰ they hired and bringing that girl child out of school, or the boy children out of school to help them on the farm. That is a complete reversal of the development agenda, and it's intertwined with climate.

On whether China is competing with the World Bank

I don't think we should view ourselves as competitors with any of the multilateral banks or countries. All countries have bilateral¹¹ aid systems in addition to helping¹² with the multilateral development banking system. And I think we need all shoulders at the wheel, including the private sector, if we're going to make a difference with a sense of urgency, particularly in climate, where 2030 is seven years away and 2050 with the Paris Accords is 27 years away. We don't have the time to play in silos.If young people have good quality of life, health, education, clean air, clean water, the things you and I take for granted. If they get that and also get jobs when they're eligible¹³ for jobs. Then young people, their optimism, their future transforms countries.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

4 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

7 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

8 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

9 segregate   

adj.分离的，被隔离的；vt.使分离，使隔离

参考例句：

• We have to segregate for a few day.我们得分离一段日子。
• Some societies still segregate men and women.有的社会仍然将男女隔离。

10 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

11 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。